How tricky would it be to generate a text bulletin if an allied faction has just obtained a tech? I think the new flashes at the side are a convenient place. With imptc set to medium & high priority for purposes of display?
Preferably make it configurable so that post install of the mod, I could pick and choose what techs to be notified for (hulls, obviously... other vital game-rocking stuff I can't think of off the top of my head). This is useful to not waste research when one can just trade for things.